Wow, i like that eclipse...i think it'd look even better with a corona effect: solar flares that shoot out like luminous spikes and are visible during eclipses. I didn't know giger had a website...ooh - Aliens

yeah bob: technique of painting is a matter of personal taste. some people work from shadows and paint light, some work from middle tones, etc. you should experiment to find out what suits you. choosing values happens mostly on the fly, although working with a few presets is a rather good exercise. again, experiment. if you just started, don't expect the best results right away. it takes time.